Stamped Concrete Cost 2026: Guides Say $5 to $20 per Sq Ft
Two cost guides put stamped concrete at $5 to $10 per sq ft ($2,800 to $6,500 for a patio) (Lawn Love, 5 October 2026) and $10 to $20 per sq ft (Concrete Network, 14 July 2026), with no source named for either. No supplier list or public bid we found prices the stamping itself, so we price what we can verify: the plain slab underneath, $1,490 to $4,160 for a 12×20 patio with mesh. Get the stamping quoted as its own line.
What the Guides Print
| Guide | Page dated | Stamped concrete |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn Love | 5 October 2026 | $5 to $10 per sq ft ($2,800 to $6,500 for a patio) |
| Concrete Network | 14 July 2026 | $10 to $20 per sq ft |
Read 14 October 2026. Neither page says what size, pattern or colour work its range assumes. Why published concrete prices disagree in general is set out on the homepage.
The Plain Slab Under the Stamping
| Project | Plain slab, typical | Plain slab, low to high | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12×12 patio | $1,710 | $1,030 to $3,330 | $7.19–$23.11 |
| 12×20 patio | $2,370 | $1,490 to $4,160 | $6.20–$17.32 |
| 20×20 patio | $3,360 | $2,180 to $5,620 | $5.45–$14.06 |
| 4×30 walkway | $1,560 | $930 to $3,110 | $7.77–$25.92 |
| 20×24 driveway | $3,970 | $2,590 to $6,520 | $5.40–$13.58 |
4-inch slab with wire mesh on a 4-inch stone base, broom finish (3,000 PSI for patios and walkways, 4,000 PSI for the driveway), national prices, our cost model. A stamped quote should cost more than this line; ask how much more, and what for.
Plain Slab Calculator (Stamping Quoted Separately)
12 x 20 ft = 240 sq ft at 4 inches: $6.20 to $17.32 per sq ft installed.
| Line and source | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Ready-mix concrete 2.96 cu yd plus 5 to 10% overage, 3,000 PSI at Supreme Concrete $127.05, Minimix Concrete $136.00, Gehring Construction & Ready-Mix $148.00, Scenic City Ready Mix $165.00 a yard | $395 | $452 | $538 |
Delivery and small-load fees Per-truck and short-load charges on the same four price lists | $50 | $110 | $519 |
Crushed-stone base, 4 in Crusher run from D & L Supply, JMJ Companies, Golden Landscaping Supply, Yard Works Landscape Supply | $156 | $195 | $266 |
Wire mesh (6x6 10-gauge) Menards online price, read 13 Oct 2026 | $58 | $58 | $58 |
Form boards Menards lumber, shared across reuses | $24 | $36 | $49 |
Crew labour Crew hours (our estimate) x BLS OEWS national wages, May 2025 x BLS employer costs (June 2026): $29.60 to $43.77 a crew hour | $557 | $972 | $1,541 |
Overhead and margin Our estimate: 20% to 40% of direct cost | $248 | $547 | $1,188 |
Low uses the cheapest published price and our lowest assumption on every line, high the dearest. The region changes crew wages only: no state-level ready-mix price is published, so concrete and materials stay at the four price lists. Not included: excavation, permits, pumping, sealing. Totals are rounded to the nearest $10.
What to Ask on a Stamped Quote
- The plain slab and the decorative work as separate lines, so you can check the slab against the table above.
- The pattern, and whether borders or a second pattern are included.
- How the colour is made: integral colour in the mix, a colour hardener on the surface, a release colour, or a combination.
- The sealer: product, number of coats, and whether the first coat is in the price.
- Thickness, steel and base, the same as for a plain slab: stamping does not change what the slab needs underneath.
- For a driveway, the same thickness and reinforcement questions as on the driveway page; for a walkway or patio, see the patio page.
Sources: BLS OEWS 47-2051 cement masons (May 2025), BLS OEWS 47-2061 construction laborers (May 2025), BLS ECEC, construction (June 2026), ready-mix price lists from Supreme Concrete, Minimix Concrete, Gehring Construction & Ready-Mix, Scenic City Ready Mix, crusher-run prices from D & L Supply, JMJ Companies, Golden Landscaping Supply, Yard Works Landscape Supply, Menards mesh, rebar, lumber and poly prices. Model inputs read 13 October 2026; Lawn Love and Concrete Network read 14 October 2026. Crew hours, overage, overhead and margin are our estimates and are listed in the method above.